House Wren. Photo: Nick Shearman/Audubon Photography Awards
OPAS Field Trip: Birding by Ear
Leaders: Dave Swinford and Greg Irving
Monday, June 8, 2026 at 8:00a.m. until 1:00p.m.
Registration Deadline: June 1, 2026
Participant limit 12 — Registration required. Register below.
Cost: Free
Meeting Place: Dungeness Fish Hatchery parking area on Fish Hatchery Road; from there you will travel to an area south of the hatchery where there is a mix of excellent bird habitat.
Features: The primary focus of this trip is to strengthen participants’ ability to bird by ear. To achieve that objective, we will include a simple pre‑trip activity: before the outing, the field trip leader will contact each participant and assign one or two bird species we’re likely to encounter. You’ll be asked to learn that species’ vocalizations and, during the trip, identify it by sound. Participants will receive their assigned bird in advance, along with recordings tailored to the season and location, so there’s plenty of time to listen and prepare.
Greg Irving will introduce the group to the equipment he uses for high quality field recording. He will also make recordings during the field trip to add to a shared eBird list.
Bring: Wear clothing appropriate for the weather and wear sturdy hiking shoes, as the area includes a mix of terrains. Bring binoculars and a spotting scope if you have one. The estimated hiking distance is about 2.5 miles with some moderate incline. At the end of the trip, there will be an optional group discussion to socialize, share experiences, and offer feedback.
Leader Contact information:
Dave Swinford dgswinford@gmail.com, 301-933-8938
Greg Irving khungreg@fastmail.fm,360-670-4438
Liability Form: The OPAS field trip liability release form will now be included in the Eventbrite registration. It will require a check mark that indicates you have read and agree to the liability form language before registration continues. Important! Please provide your first and last name and other participants’ names, if applicable, during registration. This requirement will free up your time and the field trip leader’s time to collect signatures.
Note: A waitlist has been enabled for this trip. If you need to cancel your reservation, please email webmaster@olympicpeninsulaaudubon.org.